Wanda Zellmer

Wanda Raye Zellmer, 77, won her brave battle against Alzheimer's Disease on the morning of Christmas Eve - December 24, 2016. There will be a visitation at LaGrone Funeral Chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. today, December 28, 2016. A rosary is planned for 10 a.m. Thursday, December 29, 2016, at St. Peter's Catholic Church. The service will follow the rosary, at about 10:30 a.m., on Thursday at St. Peter's.
Wanda, a native of Roswell, was born on November 12, 1939, to Virgil and Florence Lewis. She was the big sister to Ted Lewis and Virgil "Bud" Lewis. She loved her family and looked after her two brothers while her parents worked, a task made challenging by the fun-loving, ornery nature of the two boys. The three Lewis kids enjoyed a close bond.
A 1958 graduate of Roswell High School, Wanda was active in the RHS band and in the SOS Sorority. She began sewing while in high school so she could enter the Made With Wool contest. Her first creation was a fully lined skirted wool suit and she earned an award for her work. She later taught her mom to sew. Wanda was very talented and had the ability to look at an outfit in the store, then go home and re-create it on her sewing machine. She made clothes for her daughters until they graduated high school, and then began sewing quilts and other handcrafts.
She met Cyril "Zeke" Zellmer, while working as a typist at the commissary at Walker Air Force Base. Zeke was in the Air Force, stationed at Walker. The two were married on March 21, 1959, in Roswell, and recently celebrated their 57th anniversary.
After their marriage, Wanda decided to attend the nursing program at St. Mary's Hospital. She graduated with her Licensed Vocational Nurse degree in 1961. That began her 40 plus year career in nursing. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of New Mexico. She and her youngest brother, Bud, both received their nursing degrees from UNM the same day. She went on to receive her Master's degree in nursing from the University of Texas-El Paso.
During her nursing career Wanda worked at several hospitals, including St. Mary's in Roswell and the Veteran's Administration hospital in Albuquerque. She also worked in hospitals in Michigan and Montana when her husband was stationed there with the Air Force. She made the transition to teaching and taught nursing at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell and the Roswell Job Corp Center. In 1981 she began a 22-year career as a nursing professor at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.
Wanda was a gifted nurse who was passionate about providing the best possible care to her patients. That belief carried over into her teaching and she taught many students that compassion and excellence in care were expected of them.


After Zeke's retirement from the Air Force, he and Wanda settled in San Angelo. During their time in San Angelo, Wanda became active in music - something that had always been important to her. She was also the only honorary member of the Daughters of the British Empire in San Angelo, a group she thoroughly enjoyed.
They then returned to Roswell more than 10 years ago. They were active in St. Peter's Catholic Church until their health began to decline. Wanda spent time volunteering with her dear friend Rosemary Smith at the Good Samaritan food pantry, was active in Roswell's Community Band, took part in quilting classes through Senior Circle, and loved working in her garden. She also served on the Community Healthcare Board with Jane Batson and volunteered at community health fairs.
Wanda loved her family deeply. She is survived by her husband Zeke, of Albuquerque, daughter Elizabeth "Liz" Huddle and husband Mark of Roswell, and daughter Cathy Brady and husband Tom of San Angelo. Also surviving her are her beloved grandchildren, Sariah McCracken and son Bishop of San Angelo, Skyla Stewart of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sydnee Ludlow and son Kensington of San Angelo, Meagan Ganze and husband Hunter of Lubbock, Texas, Amanda Owens and her husband Jason and family of Maypearl, Texas, and Tiffany Cloud and her husband Jarred and family of Ruidoso, New Mexico.
Wanda is also survived by many loving friends, including Joann Huddle of Roswell, New Mexico, Gene and Winnie Fustos, Jeanine Fustos, and Chuck and Ann Shuckert, all of San Angelo; brother Virgil "Bud" Lewis and his wife Debra of Peoria, AZ; brother-in-law James Zellmer of Merrill, WI; Numerous Nieces and Nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Good Samaritan food pantry, 111 E. Deming, Roswell NM 88203, or to the Roswell Humane Society, 703 E. McGaffey, Roswell NM 88203.
The family would like to thank everyone at Heartfelt Manor for their wonderful, loving care of Wanda while she was there. The care you provided her was what she took pride in providing to her own patients.

Visitation

LaGrone Funeral Chapel
900 South Main
Roswell, NM  88203
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
5PM to 7PM

Service

Rosary

St. Peter Catholic Church
805 S Main
Roswell, NM  88203
Thursday, December 29, 2016
10AM

Funeral Service

St. Peter Catholic Church
805 S Main
Roswell, NM  88203
Thursday, December 29, 2016
10:30AM